Frenchman Hamid Hakkar went along to the fancy dress bash with a mask, wig and pitchfork.

But his disguise did not stop him being collared by cops who had a tip-off he would be there and arrested him on foot of a European Arrest Warrant.

He is already thought to have appeared before an extradition judge in Madrid, although it is not known if he agreed to be sent back to France.

Police released footage of his detention today and pictures of the devil disguise he tried to pass off unnoticed in.

He was arrested at a well-known shopping centre in Malaga called Muelle Uno.

Hakkar, 47, went on the run in 2013 after escaping during a temporary 10-day release from prison as he neared the end of a 15-year sentence for the May 1996 murder of a drugs dealer.

He was also sentenced to two years in prison for aiding the spectacular 2003 Paris jail escape of notorious bank robber Antonio Ferrara.

SOLARPIX

HAULED IN: Hamid Hakkar is taken into custody

A Spanish police spokesman confirmed: “We have arrested a 47-year-old Frenchman who is one of the most wanted fugitives in his country and had a European Arrest Warrant hanging over his head.

“He is the alleged leader of a gang of contract killers”

Spanish police spokesman

“He is the alleged leader of a gang of contract killers working for drug gangs and is suspected of being the brains behind the escape of a French criminal from jail.

“Information at our disposal pointed towards him attending a Halloween party with other members of his organisation.

“He was held while dressed as a devil at a party which he was attending with two alleged accomplices.”

SOLARPIX

FANCY DRESS: Hakkar went along to a bash with a mask, wig and pitchfork

Halloween Carnage in Birmingham

A nightmare on Broad Street in Birmingham last night as party goers celebrated Halloween.

1 / 27

The other two men held are both Spanish and are suspected of helping Hakkar, nicknamed Julio after the veteran Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias, evade capture by putting him up in a safe house and providing him with fake identities.

The investigation that led to the arrests was launched in October following the discovery of a contract killer’s ‘kit’ at a flat in Malaga which included two firearms, a silencer, ammunition, eight mobile phones and fake ID papers.